(19)

(11)

EP 1 063 931 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 11.11.1999 (43) Date of publication: 03.01.2001 Bulletin 2001/01 (21) Application number: 99912741.8 (22) Date of filing: 19.03.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 17/39, A61M 25/01 (86) International application number: PCT/US9906/092 (87) International publication number: WO 9947/058 (23.09.1999 Gazette 1999/38)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 19.03.1998 US 78545 P (71) Applicant: Oratec Interventions, Inc. Menlo Park, CA 94025 (US)	(72) Inventors: ASHLEY, John, E. San Francisco, CA 94127 (US) SHARKEY, Hugh, R. Woodside, CA 94062 (US) SAAL, Joel Portola Valley, CA 94028 (US) SAAL, Jeffrey Portola Valley, CA 94028 (US) (74) Representative: Price, Paul Anthony King et al D. Young & Co.,21 New Fetter Lane London EC4A 1DA London EC4A 1DA (GB)